Director of the China Nuclear Fusion Museum: The times need to carry forward the spirit of scientists

China News Network Chengdu, May 5 Topic: Director of the China Nuclear Fusion Museum: The times need to carry forward the spirit of scientists

Written by Peng Shan Zhongjun Liu

Recently, the fusion research base of the Southwest Institute of Physics of the Nuclear Industry in Chengdu, Sichuan Province and the former site of the first controlled nuclear fusion experimental device in Leshan, Sichuan Province were selected as the 2023 Scientist Spiritual Education Base Recognition List. The glorious entrepreneurial history of China's pioneers in controlled fusion research in the sixties and eighties is still remembered.

China's first "artificial sun" device, China Circulator No. 1, nuclear fusion experimental device installation platform, pre-test circulator device... In the School of Engineering and Technology of Chengdu University of Technology in Leshan, Sichuan, the China Nuclear Fusion Museum, built on the site of the former China Circulator No. 1 experimental device, tells the history of controlled fusion research in China. Wang Xiangxing, director of the China Nuclear Fusion Museum, said in a recent interview that this era needs to promote the spirit of scientists.

China's first "artificial sun" installation China Circulation No. 1. Photo courtesy of Southwest Institute of Physics of Nuclear Industry

It is understood that the ultimate goal of controlled nuclear fusion is to develop and utilize nuclear fusion energy to fundamentally solve the energy needs of human civilization and progress. The sun itself is a giant fusion device, so controlled nuclear fusion is called an "artificial sun." Decades ago, hundreds of controlled fusion researchers came to Leshan, staying incognito, persevering in the mountains, overcoming many difficulties, and generously dedicating their years to China's controlled fusion cause.

When it comes to China's controlled fusion cause, Li Zhengwu is a name that cannot be avoided. Li Zhengwu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a famous experimental nuclear physicist in China, a nuclear fusion and plasma physicist, and a pioneer and leader in the field of nuclear fusion energy development in China. As one of the earliest scientists engaged in controlled thermonuclear fusion research in China, Li Zhengwu first proposed the idea of controlled deuterium and tritium "ignition" in China, making important contributions to China's controlled thermonuclear fusion research and talent training.

Wang Xiangxing recalled that in 1947, Li Zhengwu, who taught at a university after graduating from Tsinghua University, went to study in the physics department of the California Institute of Technology in the United States. In the 50s of last century, Li Zhengwu, who had achieved success in his studies, decided to return to China to participate in the construction, but like Qian Xuesen, he was obstructed by the US authorities and his personal freedom was restricted. In the face of the arduous road back to China, after unremitting efforts, in 1955, Li Zhengwu returned to the motherland with Qian Xuesen, He Guozhu, Xu Guozhi and others.

After returning to China, Li Zhengwu was arranged to engage in scientific research at the former Beijing Institute of Atomic Energy (now China Institute of Atomic Energy). In 1965, coinciding with China's "three-line construction", China's controlled fusion research base was located in Xiaoba, a suburb of Leshan County, Sichuan (now Leshan City, Sichuan). Construction of the base broke ground in 1966. For the original dream of a scientific power, Li Zhengwu, who was more than half a hundred years old at this time, and his wife Sun Xiang resolutely chose to come to Leshan, where the conditions were difficult. In 1969, Li Zhengwu led all the colleagues of Room 14 of the former Beijing Institute of Atomic Energy to relocate as a whole and settled in the Leshan Base of the <> Institute (the predecessor of the Southwest Institute of Physics of Nuclear Industry) under construction. Li Zhengwu is the director of the institute.

Fusion Research Base of Southwest Institute of Physics, Nuclear Industry. Photo courtesy of Southwest Institute of Physics of Nuclear Industry

Wang Xiangxing said that at that time, Xiaoba was still a barren mountain range, with no living facilities, no domestic water, no farmers' market, and daily necessities, firewood, rice, oil and salt had to be purchased in Leshan County, and to get to the county seat, it was necessary to trek 5 kilometers of muddy and rugged mountain roads.

In 1970, Li Zhengwu's family of three, who settled in the Leshan base, lived in a mud house of only more than 10 square meters. The walls are made of gray-black concrete blocks, and public faucets and toilets are far away. When it rains, the muddy road is slippery, and it is very difficult to fetch water and go to the toilet. For Li Zhengwu and his wife, what is more difficult is to walk 5 kilometers to the county seat to buy oil, salt, firewood and rice, and carry them home in a basket. At that time, comrades of the <> Institute could often see two scientists carrying daily necessities, supporting each other on the windy and muddy mountain road and on the "beauty slope" with hundreds of steps (the only way to enter the <> Institute in those years).

In an article commemorating Li Zhengwu, Wang Xiangxing once wrote: Once, because of the rainy road, Sun Xiang accidentally fell on the road to climb the hill. Li Zhengwu quickly stepped forward to lift his wife up from the ground. Seeing that his wife, a classmate of Tsinghua University and a senior physicist, had been soaked by the rain at this time, and his pants were stained with mud, Li Zhengwu felt both distressed and guilty. He said to Sun Xiang: "You came back from the United States with me, gave up a lot, and now you followed me from Beijing to Leshan, which really made you suffer." Listening to her husband's words, Sun Xiang just looked at Li Zhengwu's eyes and said calmly: "As long as we can successfully build China's 'artificial sun', these hardships are nothing." Li Zhengwu, who has always been an introvert, had mixed feelings after listening, and he silently picked up his wife's arm and carried the back basket. The husband and wife continued to trek one foot deep and one foot shallow on the "beauty slope".

With the unremitting efforts of scientific researchers, in 1984, the China Circulator-1987 experimental device was completed and put into operation, marking that China's controlled nuclear fusion research entered the world's frontier. In <>, the China Circulator No. <> experimental device won the first prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award and was written into high school physics textbooks.

In the eighties of last century, Li Zhengwu retired from the post of director of the 585 Institute and became the honorary director of the Southwest Institute of Physics (the external name of the 585 Institute). In his later years, Li Zhengwu returned to Beijing and settled. Although he is in Beijing, Li Zhengwu is in Leshan. Li Zhengwu's daughter Li Shubei recalled that her father had a very strong affection for Leshan, and his dream was about the Southwest Institute of Physics, where he lived, where China Circulation No. 1 was born.

In 2012, the China Nuclear Fusion Museum was inaugurated. When Li Zhengwu heard the news, he specially instructed Li Shubei to donate his personal belongings to the museum in the future, so that future generations would know the hardships of China's nuclear industry entrepreneurship and let young people receive patriotic education. On July 2013, 7, 30-year-old Li Zhengwu died in Beijing. In 97, Li Shubei adhered to his father's last wish and donated precious cultural relics such as Li Zhengwu's Tsinghua University graduation certificate, the certificate given to Li Zhengwu by the famous scientist Zhu Kezhen, and the correspondence between Li Zhengwu and his former friend Qian Xuesen to the China Nuclear Fusion Museum.

Since the establishment of the China Nuclear Fusion Museum, it has received tens of thousands of visits from all walks of life every year. "Many college students came to visit the museum before, and I told them this story, and they were very moved to hear it." Wang Xiangxing said: Relying on the heavy tools of big countries to strengthen the spiritual education of scientists among contemporary college students will help stimulate patriotic feelings and enhance college students' national self-confidence and pride. (End)